The Evolution of Buddy Hield

Mike Schmitz analyzes how Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield has improved as a shot creator in the half court, specifically tracking the progression of his ball-handling, off the dribble shooting and finishing ability inside the arc.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Schmitz goes year by year in analyzing Hield's progession from his freshman to senior seasons, both in terms of his scoring proficiency, but also with his ability to get to the free throw line and put the ball in the net efficiently.

Hield has dramatically improved as an off the dribble shooter, both with his ability to create space for himself with advanced ball-handling moves, but also with his consistency making pull-up jumpers.

His range now extends to the NBA arc, he looks highly comfortable in isolation situations, and he's much improved in pick and roll situations, particularly with his ability to use change of speeds and directions.

Included is analysis from Buddy himself talking about the steps he's taken to improve as a shot-creator the way he has.

Hield settled for too many floaters his first few years in college and was mostly unsuccessful doing so. He's now getting all the way to the rim, taking contact at the basket and finishing with his off hand.

In a draft class lauded for its guards, three exceptionally talented, and wildly different, forward prospects sit in the top six of our mock draft, each taking a very different path to the top, and demonstrating wildly contrasting strengths and weaknesses. So who is the best prospect among the three?